By Olawale Olayinka, Abeokuta
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has alleged that former presidential daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he declined her request to refund the expenses she allegedly incurred during the party's governorship primary.
Senator Adeola made the allegation while addressing members of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes (Market Leaders) from Remoland during a meeting held over the weekend at his senatorial office in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area.
Reacting to Senator Obasanjo-Bello's recent claim that she left the APC because he failed to honour an alleged promise to reimburse her campaign expenses after emerging as the party's consensus governorship candidate, Adeola said the demand was both surprising and insulting.
He argued that the request exposed what he described as the real motive behind her participation in the governorship race.
According to him, "Their intention is driven by personal interest and not the interest of Ogun State. They don't mean well for our dear state. They are bitter and are only interested in the state's treasury.
"One of them said I offended her because I reneged on promises. She claimed she contested the governorship race, lost, and wanted me to refund her expenses in dollars and naira. Did I ask her to contest the governorship election?" he queried.
The APC flagbearer explained that he had initially visited Senator Obasanjo-Bello during his consultations with party leaders and stakeholders because he regarded her as a respected Ogun indigene who genuinely desired the progress of the state.
However, he said he later realised that her interest was motivated by personal gain rather than public service. "Asking me to refund the money you spent on your campaign is insulting. You did not leave the APC because the party offended you. You left because you were offered money elsewhere. You are not committed to any political party; you simply want to benefit financially. Those people do not mean well for Ogun State. They are only after the state's purse," he said.
Adeola further alleged that after failing to obtain what she wanted from him and the APC, Senator Obasanjo-Bello aligned herself with the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, in pursuit of similar personal interests.
He added that the appropriate time would come for him to reveal more details, maintaining that her own public statements had already exposed what he described as her political inconsistency.
The senator also commented on the legal challenge against his emergence as the APC governorship candidate, alleging that the same political opponents were responsible for the court action.
Expressing confidence in his candidature, Adeola maintained that the lawsuit would not succeed, insisting that those challenging him were themselves facing more serious legal obstacles.
"Based on existing legal provisions and court judgments, politicians who defected to another political party after May 10, 2026, are not qualified to contest the forthcoming election.
"We all know when these people left the APC for the PDP. By law, anyone who crossed over after May 10, 2026, is only wasting his or her time. We are waiting for them," he stated.
Adeola also questioned the legal status of the PDP, claiming that the party remained divided by unresolved internal disputes.
"I make bold to say they do not exist for now. They still have two factions battling in court, and none has been legally recognised. It can go either way in the days ahead," he added.
Earlier, the President of the Council of Iyalajes and Babaalajes in Remoland, Chief (Mrs.) Olufunke Oyelaja, led members of the council to endorse Senator Adeola's governorship aspiration.
She expressed confidence in his capacity to improve the welfare of traders, citing his record of constructing ultra-modern markets and empowering thousands of market women across Ogun State.
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